Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates
for the Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

A. The Philippines

The country’s inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slowed down to 2.4 percent in January 2025 from 2.5 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 3.6 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1. Regional Inflation

Inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Central Visayas decreased to1.9 percent in January 2025 from 2.5 percent in December 2024. In January 2025, inflation rate was recorded at 2.8 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu had a faster increase of 2.7 percent in January 2025 from 2.4 percent in December 202. In January 2024, the inflation rate stood at 4.7 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Headline Inflation in the City of Cebu

The main source to the upward trend of the headline inflation rate for this income group in January 2025 was the faster year-on-year increase of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.3 percent from 1.2 percent in the previous month. (Table 4)

In addition, faster annual increases were recorded in the indices of personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.8 percent and alcoholic beverage and tobacco at 0.7 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.5 percent and 0.4 percent. (Table 3)

In contrast, slower annual increments were recorded in the following commodity group during the month:

a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 4.3 percent from 6.5 percent;
b. Health,1.4 percent from 1.5 percent;
c. Recreation, sport and culture, 0.5 percent from 1.4 percent;
d. Education services, 2.3 percent from 3.1 percent; and
e. Restaurants and accommodation services, 1.0 percent from 2.1 percent. (Table 3)

Moreover, transport had a faster year-on-year decrease of 0.4 percent in January 2025 from 0.2 percent annual drop in December 2024. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, clothing and footwear, and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance retained their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 1.6 percent and 1.8 percent. (Table 3)

Furthermore, the indices with no price movement were information and communication, and financial services. (Table 3)

1.2    Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top three contributors to the January 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 54.9 percent share or 1.5 percentage points;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 31.3 percent share or 0.9 percentage point; and
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 6.5 percent share or 0.2 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu had a faster annual increase of 3.5 percent in January 2025 from 1.2 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, the food inflation stood at 5.4 percent. (Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Uptrend of Food Inflation

The uptrend in the food inflation during the month was primarily driven by the faster year-on-year increases of fish and other seafood at 9.1 percent and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 7.8 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.3 percent and 6.4 percent. Also contributed in the acceleration of food inflation was the faster annual increase of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 12.7 percent from 2.5 percent annual decline in December 2024. (Table 5)

In addition, slower annual decreases were posted in the indices of sugar, confectionary and desserts at 3.2 percent and rice at 2.9 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.4 percent and 3.0 percent annual decreases. (Table 5)

In contrast, slower year-on-year increments were recorded in the indices of corn at 27.0 percent, fruits and nuts at 3.1 percent and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.9 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 27.8 percent, 7.7 percent and 4.4 percent. (Table 5)

Faster annual decrease was noted in milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.9 percent in January 2025 from 0.1 percent annual drop in December 2024. (Table 5)

Meanwhile, the indices of flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, and oils and fats retained their previous month’s inflation rates at 0.8 percent annual increase and 2.3 percent annual decrease. (Table 5)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 52.2 percent share or 1.4 percentage point to the January 2025 overall inflation for this particular income group.

Among the food groups, the main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Fish and other seafood with 42.0 percent share or 1.5 percentage point;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 37.0 percent share or 1.3 percentage point; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 20.8 percent share or 0.7 percentage point.

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for the Bottom 30% Income Households in the City of Cebu, All Items
In Percent
January 2019 – January 2025
(2018=100)

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

KST/MJG